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Rumormill: Rumblings of Zeta-based family of rear-wheel-drive GM sedans persist

Filed under: Sedan, Buick, Cadillac, Chevrolet, Rumormill, Luxury

Cadillac Sixteen concept car in the wet

The ongoing yarn about General Motors fielding a brace of rear-wheel drive flagship sedans based on a new generation Premium Zeta platform has hit the big time, with Motor Trend reporting that the platform will underpin a sport sedan for Chevrolet. Last month, the rejigged Zeta was touted as the basis for a flagship Buick that would finally, and properly, challenge Lexus. MT’s report says there will be two wheelbases for this new Zeta, and that those two variants will do duty under a Cadillac, a U.S. Buick and potentially a Chinese-market Buick, and several Holden models along with the aforementioned Chevy.

As the basis for premium sedans, General Motors could spend the money to make it properly light and strong through the use of high-strength steels. The Chevy sport sedan mentioned would be “a kind of four-door Camaro” – Pontiac G8 GXP redux, anyone? – while the Buick only gets described as “cushier,” and both would go on the shorter wheelbase Zeta.

The most interesting tidbit could be Cadillac’s use of the long-wheelbase platform. MT prices a Cadillac flagship at between $125,000 and $140,000 and says the Zeta-based Cadillac, Whitacre’s S-Class rival for the Crest-and-Wreath brand, will sit beneath it. If it all comes to pass, that would give Cadillac a larger CTS, then an XTS, then a properly sporting high-end luxury competitor, then a one-Caddy-to-rule-them-all ne plus ultra model by 2014 or so. Hat tip to Joshua!

[Source: Motor Trend]

Rumormill: Rumblings of Zeta-based family of rear-wheel-drive GM sedans persist originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 24 Sep 2010 14:26:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Hennessey VelociRaptor APV is the Raptor-based SUV of our dreams

Filed under: Aftermarket, Performance, Truck, Ford, Off-Road

Hennessey VelociRaptor APV

Hennessey VelociRaptor APV – Click above for high-res image gallery

Hennessey has just pulled back the sheets on what can only be described as a raging pile of awesome – the VelociRaptor APV. It can seat up to eight, packs a supercharged 6.2-liter V8 good for a galloping 575 horsepower and if its anything like its pickup cousin, can leap small villages in a single bound. Apparently it can also withstand small-arms fire. The company hasn’t announced how much one of these things will set you back, but we’re guessing it’s more than a handful of shiny pennies.

Something tells us that this truck is going to be mighty popular with border patrol agents.

Hennessey will also turn out an eight-passenger, non-armored version if you don’t find yourself under a hail of gunfire on your typical commute. We’re guessing that without all the weight of armor plating and bullet-resistant glass, the non-tactical version is quite a bit more entertaining to fling through the desert. Hit the jump for the full press release.

Gallery: Hennessey VelociRaptor APV

[Source: Hennessey]

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Hennessey VelociRaptor APV is the Raptor-based SUV of our dreams originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 09 Sep 2010 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Lagonda crossover reportedly scrapped in favor of Rapide-based sedan

Filed under: Sedan, Performance, Aston Martin, Luxury

Aston Martin Rapide – Click above for high-res image gallery

Aston Martin Lagonda hasn’t lacked for four-door models in its history, but its latest efforts have had us all scratching our heads in bewilderment. Instead of badging the Rapide as a Lagonda model, the four-door DB9 derivative has come to market instead. Meanwhile, the Lagonda badge was resurrected for an odd crossover concept that, let’s just say, wasn’t warmly received after its unveiling at the 2009 Geneva Motor Show.

Subsequent reports indicated that the Lagonda concept – reportedly based on a Mercedes platform – was heading back to the drawing boards. Now, the latest reports indicate a different approach. Apparently the crossover has been canned entirely, but that doesn’t mean the dormant half of Aston Martin Lagonda Ltd is going back to sleep.

In response to customer complaints that the Rapide was lacking in rear-seat legroom (and it is pretty cramped back there), AML is now reportedly preparing to enlarge the four-door coupe into a more accommodating form that will bear the Lagonda name in the crossover’s stead. Sources place the sedan’s arrival no sooner than four years from now, so you’re long-legged friends will half to wait a while longer to enjoy the rear accommodations in your Aston.

Gallery: Review: 2010 Aston Martin Rapide

Gallery: Geneva 2009: Aston Martin Lagonda Concept

[Source: Automotive News – Sub. Req.]

Lagonda crossover reportedly scrapped in favor of Rapide-based sedan originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 06 Sep 2010 18:25:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Spy Shots: Ford Fiesta-based crossover headed for the UK

Filed under: Spy Photos, Crossover, Ford, UK

Spy Shots: Ford Fiesta-based crossover mule – click above for high-res image gallery

Ford is enjoying early success with the Fiesta here in the United States, but in Europe, where the Fiesta has been on sale for years, it’s time to start thinking about the future. Our friendly neighborhood snappers at CarPix have scored spy shots of what appears to be a high-riding Fiesta-based crossover designed to slot in below the Kuga crossover in the automaker’s European lineup.

A Fiesta crossover might sound a little odd at first take, but when it comes to production, it should be roughly the same size as a Nissan Juke or Mini Countryman. That in mind, don’t rule out the possibility of the Fiesta CUV making its way to the U.S. Expect to see a variety of powertrains offered for European customers including some EcoBoost options, and both front- and all-wheel drive configurations should be available. Check out our gallery of high-res pics before to get a closer look at the forthcoming Blue Oval tall boy.

Gallery: Spy Shots: Ford Fiesta-based crossover

[Source: CarPix]

Spy Shots: Ford Fiesta-based crossover headed for the UK originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 01 Sep 2010 18:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Video: Jeep accidently shows off Fiat-based CUV *UPDATE

Filed under: Concept Cars, SUV, Videos, Jeep, Design/Style, Off-Road

Jeep shows off Fiat-based CUV – Click above to watch video after the jump

There have been plenty of murmurings about how Fiat’s partnership with Chrysler will impact the Jeep brand. Exactly how much platform sharing will occur between the Italian automaker and the Pentastar’s globe-roaming purveyor of SUVs has been a hot topic amongst the Jeep faithful for some time. Now it appears that a video posted on YouTube by user thejeepchannel has given the world its first glance at a new Fiat-based crossover set to wear the famous seven-slot grille. In the video, a Jeep intern learns a bit about the company’s design process, all while hovering around a clay model of one very CUV-looking creation.

Chrysler has made no qualms about the fact that it will produce an SUV on the C-Evo platform, and has even made noise about which of the company’s manufacturing facilities will build the vehicle.

Our guess is that the clay model in the video is none other than that very high-rider. Judging by the clay, the CUV will wear a host of typical Jeep design cues, including squared-off fender arches and overhangs. Follow the jump to see for yourself.

*Update: Chrysler has released the following statement concerning the vehicle in the video:

“While we certainly appreciate the interest, the clay model and sketches in the YouTube video represent past design studies, not the future of Jeep design. This and similar videos are targeted toward college students and the youth market in general, to build excitement about the Jeep brand, and to provide a glimpse into some of the processes we go through to create iconic Jeep vehicles.”

[Source: YouTube]

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Video: Jeep accidently shows off Fiat-based CUV *UPDATE originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 01 Sep 2010 11:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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New Stratos project gets itself a website, confirms Ferrari F430-based

Filed under: Classics, Coupe, Performance, Specialty, Design/Style, Lancia

New Lancia Stratos

New Stratos – Click above for high-res image gallery

The New Lancia Stratos project has made itself even more legitimate by getting a full-blown presence on the web. Well… kinda. While there is a fresh website for the New Stratos, much of the car’s precious details are blacked-out. We assume that will change leading up to the car’s official debut, which the website confirms will take place in November.

We also learn that the Stratos revival is a private project by Michael Stoschek, a successful businessman who heads the fifth-largest auto parts supplier in Germany and campaigned as a vintage rally car driver, along with his son Maximilian. As rumored, the New Stratos is indeed based on the guts of a Ferrari F430 and its bodywork is crafted completely from carbon fiber, allowing for a power-to-weight ratio of less than five pounds per horsepower and a 50:50 weight distribution.

Confirmation also comes that Jason Castriota was in charge of the design at Pininfarina until he left for Stile Bertone. Pininfarina’s Luca Borgogno apparently completed the project, including its interior. It’s not yet decided if this car will be a one-off (there is currently only one in existence) or if a small production run of 25 units will be completed. We supposed that would depend on demand for the car and by how much it would cost to reproduce. We vote yes, obviously.

Gallery: New Stratos

[Source: New-Stratos.com]

New Stratos project gets itself a website, confirms Ferrari F430-based originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 17 Aug 2010 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Rumormill: Mercedes working on B-Class-based CLC Shooting Brake

Filed under: Wagon, Hatchback, Mercedes-Benz, Rumormill, Luxury

Mercedes-Benz CLS Shooting Break concept – Click above for high-res image gallery

Oh, Mercedes. When will you learn that the CLC was just a bad idea? BMW did so with the chopped-trunk 318ti, but Mercedes seems determined to make its counterpart work. To that end, the Silver Star automaker is reportedly working on a new derivative.

Drawing its inspiration from the CLS Shooting Break concept (pictured above) and its underpinnings from the B-Class, the CLC Shooting Brake (hopefully they’ll get the spelling right this time) is expected to slot in below the C-Class Estate wagon, but presumably with a svelter roofline.

That doesn’t mean they’ll get the door count right though: the jury’s still out on whether it’ll be a proper shooting brake with three doors (like the existing CLC, but longer) or five doors like a conventional wagon. Engine options, meanwhile, are tipped to revolve around turbocharged fours, ranging from 108 horsepower and 1.2 liters to a 272-hp CLC22 AMG with 4Matic all-wheel drive. Sources expect the CLC Shooting Brake to arrive around September 2013.

Gallery: Mercedes-Benz CLS Shooting Break Concept

Gallery: Beijing 2010: Mercedes-Benz Shooting Break concept

[Sources: Autobild]

Rumormill: Mercedes working on B-Class-based CLC Shooting Brake originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 13 Aug 2010 17:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Spy Shots: Tiguan-based Audi Q3 peeped through a window

Filed under: Spy Photos, Crossover, Audi

Audi Q3 spy shots – Click above for high-res image gallery

Our Peeping Tom spy photographers normally catch prototypes while they’re out and about on the street, but sometimes they catch a peek inside automakers’ development studios from the street, snagging shots of test mules before their tires even touch the ground. This is one such case, and though these photos aren’t clear as day, it’s no secret that Audi’s new Q3 crossover, based on the Volkswagen Tiguan, is what’s being prepped behind closed doors (but not behind closed blinds).

We’ve known that Audi would be creating a CUV smaller than the Q5 for quite some time now, and while the baby soft-roader relies heavily on Tiguan underpinnings, we’re sure that the quad-rung crossover will be much more shapely. Here, we see the sloping roofline and more rakish hatch, giving the Q3 a sportier stance than its VW-badged kin. Set to compete head-on with the BMW X1, the Q3 should make its debut sometime in 2011 with the first production models hitting dealers later that year. Take a close look at these spy shots for yourself in the gallery below.

Gallery: Spy Shots: Audi Q3

[Source: CarPix]

Spy Shots: Tiguan-based Audi Q3 peeped through a window originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 12 Aug 2010 14:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Rumormill: GM mulling Zeta-based Buick flagship?

Filed under: Budget, Sedan, Buick, GM, Rumormill, Luxury

We can quit wondering where General Motors is heading with Buick. Maybe. If rumors dusting up from GM Inside News are to be believed, company leadership has the Tri-Shield’s sights trained solidly on Lexus. We all know that the 2010 Buick LaCrosse was positioned as the answer to the Lexus ES 350, but supposedly, GM is aiming even higher and cooking up a Zeta-based sedan to go head-to-head with the Lexus LS. If you believe the hype, design work has already been given the go-ahead, but production ihas yet to receive an official OK from up top. Details are predictably scarce, but GM Inside News claims that the styling is sharp as can be.

Interestingly enough, the Zeta platform that would provide the basis for the rumored big Buick isn’t exactly the same as the one underpinning the mega-Holdens prowling Australia (or the Caprice soon to be cruising your local donut shop, or the Buick Park Avenue that’s already sold in China). Instead, GMI says that the luxe Buick will be built upon something called the Premium Zeta Platform, and that the oft-rumored Cadillac flagship will use the same bones. Sounds great, but until we hear something official from The General, we won’t start holding our collective breath.

Rumormill: GM mulling Zeta-based Buick flagship? originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 07 Aug 2010 14:25:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Rumormill: Abarth Roadster based on KTM X-Bow?

Filed under: Convertible, Budget, Performance, Europe, Fiat, Rumormill

Now this is a rumor we can get behind. According to Auto Express, Fiat is looking to take the mid-engine, rear-wheel drive fight to the Lotus Elise with a new Abarth roadster based on – get this – the KTM X-Bow. How’s that for mouth watering?

Supposedly the Italian’s factory tuning division will snap up a slew of rolling chassis from KTM and drop in its own 1.8-liter turbo four-cylinder good for around 200 horsepower. Throw in some new body work and suddenly you’ve got a world-class handling machine that’s at least somewhat drivable when the weather turns sour.

AE says that according to “senior sources within the company” the car could show up as soon as 2013. That’s still an awfully long way off, so chances are this one has about as much of a chance of coming to fruition as a rear-wheel drive Acura. That’s a shame, too. We’d love to play around with a low-buck mid-engine Italian.

[Source: Auto Express]

Rumormill: Abarth Roadster based on KTM X-Bow? originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 03 Aug 2010 18:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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